Seongsu Stool Sitter · 26 stories

Late Stool, Seoul and Gangwon Bars

Writes about cafes, restaurants, and bars around Seoul and Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés

PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Callaway Chardonnay night at Hapjeong wine restaurant Ragu Hapjeong

Ragu Hapjeong is a ragu pasta and steak restaurant in a basement off an alley, about a 7-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 7 in Mapo, Seoul. Over a wine night with friends, the writer shared Grandma Ragu Pasta (19,000 won), Porcini Ragu Pasta (21,000 won), a 400g Wolf Steak (41,000 won) and a 45,000 won bottle of Callaway Chardonnay; the hamburger-like Grandma Ragu, the rich white porcini ragu and the generous, good-value steak all satisfied. Ragu Hapjeong is a good Hapjeong restaurant for unusual ragu pasta and a hearty steak with a bottle of wine.

Written Jun 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

BYOB Korean BBQ in Hapjeong: galmaegisal pork skirt set, Jeongyukdo

Jeongyukdo (정육도) is a Korean BBQ restaurant serving Hanwoo (Korean beef) and Handon (Korean pork), about a 1-minute walk from Exit 5 of Hapjeong Station in Mapo, Seoul, with outdoor patio tables and corkage at ₩5,000 per person. At Jeongyukdo the writer ordered the ₩65,000 Handon special cuts set (pork jowl, gabrisal and galmaegisal) with the set's Hanwoo doenjang stew, plus a ₩5,000 bibim naengmyeon. Verdict: Jeongyukdo's special cuts set delivers satisfying meat quality and portions for the price, and the galmaegisal (pork skirt) was the standout.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Korean BBQ with my mom near Guui Station: fresh pork belly, Sanggu's

Sanggu's Sotttukkeong Samgyeopsal Guui Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Gwangjin, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Guui Station, where meat is grilled on a cast-iron cauldron lid. The writer went with their mom and ordered fresh pork belly (15,800 won), beef rib finger meat (17,800 won), cold noodles, a cheddar cheese egg bomb and doenjang stew made with cheonggukjang (5,000 won each). The fresh pork belly and side dishes were satisfying, while the beef rib finger meat fell slightly short. Sanggu's Guui Branch is more satisfying for a group sharing sides than for eating meat alone.

Written Jun 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Balsan Station Japanese restaurant, kaisendon plus whole-eel don

Ilpum Magok is a Japanese restaurant serving kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) and eel rice bowls on Gonghang-daero in Gangseo, Seoul, near Exit 8 of Balsan Station. The writer ordered the kaisendon (26,000 won), the whole-eel unagidon (40,000 won) and a yuzu highball, and every main came with chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), a noodle or tempura dish and a mango pudding dessert, so the meal felt like a set course. With fresh sashimi, thick eel and a good dessert, Ilpum Magok is a strong pick for a date in Magok.

Written Jun 15, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulCafés

Gangnam Station café, same-day tiramisu cake to go: Selected Nicks

Selected Nicks (셀렉티드닉스) is a tiramisu café occupying an entire building in Gangnam, Seoul, about a 5-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 3. On a break from work errands, the writer picked up a classic tiramisu (7,800 won), a banana tiramisu (7,800 won) and a sausage pastry (7,500 won) to go. Because the staff packed candles and forks, the tiramisu worked well as a same-day mini cake, and the dense cream of the classic tiramisu was the favorite. Selected Nicks is a good Gangnam Station café when you need a cake in a hurry or want dessert and a light meal in one stop.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulCafés

Gongdeok Station dessert shop: 7 takeout bakes, Fluffy Bake Shop

Fluffy Bake Shop is a dessert shop near Exit 2 of Gongdeok Station in Mapo, Seoul, that bakes its own madeleines, financiers, canelés and egg tarts. Seven takeout items (an egg tart, Nunetinne and melon financiers, lemon, Earl Grey and chestnut madeleines, and a vanilla canelé) priced ₩3,000–3,800 all had a rich, buttery flavor and high quality. The best combination at Fluffy Bake Shop was the lemon madeleine, Earl Grey madeleine and egg tart, and the Nunetinne financier is the one worth buying again.

Written Jun 16, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGwangjin, SeoulRestaurants

Gunja hanwoo BBQ: free brisket and bibim naengmyeon at Hwayangri

Hwayangri Jeongyuk Sikdang Main Branch is a hanwoo (Korean beef) butcher-shop restaurant on Gunja-ro in Gwangjin, Seoul, near Children's Grand Park Station. The writer ordered the Bongseokswe hanwoo mixed platter (₩96,000) and bibim naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles, ₩7,000); the complimentary chadolbaegi (brisket) was the nuttiest, most tender beef the writer had eaten recently, and free corkage for wine, whisky and sake was another big plus. Hwayangri Jeongyuk Sikdang is a Gunja beef restaurant that delivers both value and meat quality, and a definite place to return to.

Written Jun 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangseo, SeoulRestaurants

Weekday pork cutlet lunch at Magok Station: katsu + cold soba, Tteudon

Tteudon Magok Branch (뜨돈 마곡점) is a pork cutlet restaurant near Exits 4 and 5 of Magok Station in Gangseo, Seoul, offering 1,000 won off every cutlet dish at weekday lunch plus free tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), soup, bread and ice cream. The writer ordered the Tteudon sweet potato cheese katsu (14,900 won) and pan soba, a cold buckwheat noodle dish (8,900 won), and alternated between the rich cheese cutlet and the refreshing soba. Verdict: for two people, one cutlet plus one pan soba at Tteudon Magok Branch makes a great-value lunch.

Written Jun 20, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seoulsup restaurant for blueberry chicken confit: Fleurs sur la route

Fleurs sur la route (플르서라구뜨) is a European-style restaurant on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong, Seoul, where a brick building and vintage interior make it feel like a little corner of Europe in the city. On a Seoulsup date, the writer ordered the chicken confit (₩25,000) and the Fleurs sur la route pizza topped with flame-grilled galbi (Korean short rib) (₩27,000), and the chicken confit with blueberry sauce was the standout. The atmosphere alone makes Fleurs sur la route worth choosing for a Seoulsup date or an anniversary dinner.

Written Jun 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulRestaurants

Seongsu salad bowl spot with free corkage: tofu nuggets, Le Vegie Wang

Le Vegie Wang Seongsu Space is a salad bowl and poke restaurant on Yeonmujang 1-gil in Seongsu, Seoul, about a 6-minute walk from Seongsu Station Exit 4. The writer ordered the flat iron steak bowl (₩13,200) and tofu nuggets (₩5,500), found the steak portion generous, and said the tofu nuggets tasted like chicken nuggets. With free corkage for wine, Le Vegie Wang Seongsu Space is a Seongsu salad spot that delivers both healthy food and real flavor.

Written Jun 21, 2026Sponsored
PlaceJung-gu, SeoulRestaurants

Corkage-free Korean BBQ in Euljiro 3-ga with doenjang rice: Neoaehanu

Neoaehanu (너애하누) is a corkage-free hanwoo (Korean beef) BBQ restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul, a 2-minute walk from Euljiro 3-ga Station Exit 1. The writer and a friend had the Neoaehanu 150g set (₩49,000) of 1++ striploin, rib finger and brisket, grilled at the table by staff, then finished with hanwoo doenjang (soybean paste) rice (₩15,000). For its beef quality, clean finish and private rooms, Neoaehanu is a satisfying spot for an Euljiro dinner gathering.

Written Jun 22, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongdong, SeoulCafés

Ttukseom mousse cake café with a friend: best eating order, Notldun

Notldun is a mousse cake dessert café on Seoulsup 2-gil in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, about an 8-minute walk from Ttukseom Station Exit 8. Two friends ordered the Pistachio Festival (12,500 won), the Forêt Noire (12,000 won), a lime madeleine (3,300 won) and an iced Americano (5,500 won), and both named the Pistachio Festival their top pick. Verdict: at Notldun, start with the lime madeleine, then the Pistachio Festival and the Forêt Noire, and finish with the Americano.

Written Jun 23, 2026Sponsored